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April 5, 1986

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI — The United States intends to increase military and economic assistance to Haiti and will help the new government try to recover assets stolen by President-for-Life Jean-Claude Duvalier's government. The assurances came from Elliott Abrams, assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs, at the end of a two-day visit Thursday. Haiti's ruling council, dominated by the military, has lost the popularity it had after Duvalier fled in February because nothing much has changed. U.S. and other diplomats have noted the formation of small leftist groups. Abrams said the amount of aid will depend on Congress. The military part of it will be chiefly training. On the missing assets, the assistant secretary said there may be trouble. In the case of former Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, he said, ''we had the . . . documents. We don't have Duvalier documents.''